Membership Information & Applications
| Facilities |
| Multiple rangeland pastures of 5 to 32 acres on 443 acres EBMUD grazing lease. |
| Horses depend on pasture most of the year. Beginning around late summer, when seasonal forage becomes sparse, OHA provides supplemental hay for about five months, till the rainy season brings back the grass. |
| Spring-fed troughs in all pastures. |
| 8 stalls for temporary off-pasture needs (electricity, spring fed cold water). |
| Seasonal arena (not covered). |
| Direct access to Tilden and EBMUD Recreation Trails. |
| EBMUD trails require permit, $10/year as of 2021. Details |
| Through Tilden and EBMUD trails, access to most parks and EBMUD trails in the greater East Bay. |
| Membership Types |
| Proprietary | Associate | Riding Partner |
| Individuals and Families | Associated with a Proprietary Member | Partnered with a Proprietary Member |
| Pastures 1-2 horses at OHA * | Does not pasture horses at OHA | Does not pasture horses at OHA |
| Use of property and all facilities | Use of property and all facilities | Use of property and all facilities when accompanied by a Propriety Member |
| Rides and cares for own horses, eligible to ride and care for additional OHA horses as agreed to by Proprietary Member owners | Eligible to ride and care for horse(s) of sponsoring Proprietary Member, and additional OHA horses as agreed to by Proprietary Member owners | May accompany a Proprietary Member during herd feeding, but may not substitute for either of the 2 members assigned to feed |
| Voting as allowed by OHA rules | ||
| Eligible to serve on the Board | ||
| Eligible to sponsor Associate Members and Riding Partners | ||
| ** To be eligible for Proprietary membership, you must keep at least one horse on pasture at OHA. | ||
| Yearly Dues (paid biannually) | ||
| $880 per horse | $250 | $25 |
| Yearly Work Hours | ||
| 1 horse – 25 hours 2 horses – 40 hours | 6 Hours | n/a |
| Applications |
| Membership Requirements |
| Members | |||
| Must be at least 21 years of age * | |||
| Must have health insurance | |||
| Must be accompanied by a Proprietary Member whenever on OHA property | |||
| * For Proprietary memberships, age requirement applies only to Primary member | |||
| Horses (Proprietary Members only) |
| Must have up-to-date vaccination records and Horse Health Certificate. |
| Must be able to live peaceably in a herd environment. * |
| Must be able to be safely handled by others. * |
| Geldings and mares only – no stallion.s |
| Must be rideable. ** |
| * If a horse is discovered to be chronically aggressive, such that other horses or humans are injured or at risk of injury, the member may be asked to move the horse out of OHA. |
| ** Some horses who’ve lived here many years have aged well on the pasture. However, OHA is not a retirement facility, and we do not accept new horses who are already retired. |
| Membership Criteria |
| All members should have time and ability |
| To complete yearly work hour commitment, including |
| physical work on the pasture; organizing, facilitating, carrying out ranch upkeep and administrative operations; serving on the Board of Directors; monitoring and ensuring the health and safety of all horses in the herd; and other miscellaneous tasks |
| Proprietary Members: 1 horse – minimum 25 hrs/year. |
| Proprietary Members: 2 horses – minimum 40 hrs/year. |
| Associate Members: minimum 6 hrs/year. |
| To complete alloted number of herd feedings August-September through early spring |
| Feeding allotment varies each year, based on number of Proprietary Members and number of days herd will require additional nutrition. |
| Beginning and end of feeding season varies each year, mainly depending on rainfall. |
How will these time requirements for ranch work fit into your life?
As a cooperative, we don’t employ hired help.
As a member, your commitment to the work is essential.
| All members should have willingness |
| To be collaborative and collegial, even in conditions of conflict or disagreement |
| To accept operational decisions, especially when such decisions run counter to your own beliefs on the issue |
| To accept a variety of approaches to horse care and horsemanship |
| To be friendly and decent with all members |
How will you deal with disagreements? Are you comfortable with democratic decision making? Are you comfortable “counting to ten” if conflict arises?
In 2010, OHA adopted our Culture of Cooperation.
As a cooperative, we are egalitarian, we contribute equitably and democratically. There is no “ultimate authority”.
When members have divergent ideas on how to proceed, decisions take time, and emotions can run high.
As a member, you must have the ability to temper your behavior, no matter how strongly you feel.
| Additional Membership Criteria |
| Proprietary and Associate Members |
| Should be able to commit to seeing their horse(s) at least weekly |
| Should live or work within 25 miles of the pasture |
| Proprietary Members |
| Should be sole owner or lessee of horse(s) brought to pasture |
| Should provide at least two outside (non-OHA) references who can attest to their abilities with horses |
| All members should |
| Have basic knowledge of their horse(s) |
| Have general understanding of what to do in a horse emergency |
| Possess basic horse care and safety skills |
| Know or be open to learning about herd environment and dynamics |
| We also consider novices – Being highly motivated to learn it all goes a long way! |
| Horses should |
| Be healthy |
| Be able to maintain soundness, weight, and overall health on pasture |
| If a horse becomes chronically unable to maintain soundness, weight, and overall health on pasture, the member may be asked to move the horse out of OHA |
